Fresh Choice endorses sponsorship for Southern Lakes Women's Triathlon at Lake Hayes

Sponsorship for the high profile Southern Lakes Women’s Triathlon has been confirmed by the new owners of Fresh Choice Queenstown for the next three years, underlining their commitment to supporting the local community.

Fresh Choice has been lead sponsor of the event for the past seven years and Tony Wild and Purdey Wright who have recently purchased the business have endorsed their ongoing support.

“We are all about supporting people in our community who support us,” says Ms Wright. “This event fits very well with our business philosophy and we are pleased to be associated with it. The triathlon has a healthy living focus which is something we are always keen to promote through our operation.”

Race Director Geoff Hunt says the traditionally large field of both elite and recreational athletes is expected to compete in the 2010 triathlon and duathlon at Lake Hayes on February 27.

The triathlon course includes a 300m swim or 2km kayak on Lake Hayes followed by a 15km bike ride on the Lake Hayes/Arrowtown road into Speargrass Flat road and return, concluding with a 5km run/walk on the Lake Hayes track.

The duathlon is a non-swimming event and begins with a 1.5km run on Lake Hayes Track, following the triathlon's 15km biking section and 5km run to the finish.

“The event is all about participating with friends and colleagues and we find that women enjoy the challenge without feeling any intense competitive pressure. The all-women environment makes it a good entry level event for prospective triathletes and many women who start out in our triathlon go on to compete in other more competitive events.”

Hunt says the duathlon is a recent addition to the programme and appeals to a lot of women who do not want to do the swim leg.

This year for the first time a new state-of-the-art timing system owned by Southern Traverse Ltd will be in use which will provide individual times for all legs for everyone competing.

The 2009 open triathlon was won by Joanna Williams of Wanaka and the hotly contested team’s event title went to Team Jess, Clair and Scooby of Queenstown.

The open duathlon teams’ event was won by The Flyers of Queenstown.